Rock News

Ozzy shedding new light on Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward's absence

Ozzy Osbourne says money isn't the only thing that kept drummer Bill Ward from taking part in the Black Sabbath reunion. The singer tells "Mojo" magazine that Bill wasn't up to the task.

He explains that he suggested they run through their set with Ward, because Bill was "so out of condition" and they needed to know he could play for up to two hours straight. Ozzy says they discovered that Ward didn't remember the songs.

He explains that Ward had yellow post-its with song notes stuck all over his drums. Osbourne says it "would have been cool" if Bill would have just come clean and admitted he couldn't "cut this gig," and they might have been able to work something out.

But Ozzy adds that he understands Bill's efforts to save face, because his "pride was hurt." He also says Bill will "always be a dear dear friend and a brother" to him, and he's "not gonna give Bill a hatchet job." But he admits they don't have the patience to deal with it.

The three-quarters Black Sabbath reunion, featuring Ozzy, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler with Ozzy's touring drummer Tommy Clufetos, is currently on the road. They'll be wrapping up their Australian tour with a show in Adelaide Tuesday.

The band's new album 13, which they recorded with Rage Against the Machine drummer Brad Wilk, will hit stores next month.